3 minute read

Aidan O’Brien’s star stayer Kyprios has been retired following the reoccurrence of an old injury.

A winner of seventeen of his 21 career starts, Kyprios amassed over £2.6 million in total prize-money and landed eight top-level victories.

The seven-year son of Galileo carried virtually all before him in the staying division, winning all six starts in 2022, including a memorable first Ascot Gold Cup, a battling triumph over Stradivarius in the Goodwood equivalent and victories in both the Irish Leger and Prix du Cadran, with the latter turning into a 20-length demolition job despite Kyprios hanging violently left-handed in the closing stages.

A career-threatening injury forced the star stayer to miss the majority of 2023 and although he suffered two defeats when returning to action later that autumn, it wasn't long before Kyprios was back in full working order.

Just as he did in 2022, Kyprios went on to produce a sparkling unbeaten 2024 campaign, recapturing his crowns in all four of the aforementioned Group 1's before rounding out his season with a commanding success in the Long Distance Gold Cup at Ascot on Champions Day.

Following third successes in both the Vintage Crop Stakes and Saval Beg at Navan and Leaopardstown this season, Kyprios was a general odds-on favourite to gain another Ascot Gold Cup at the Royal meeting next month.

Aidan O'Brien reported Kyprios to be moving "gingerly" immediately after his victory in the Saval Beg last month and whilst he was given a positive update the following day, connections have opted to "take no chances", retiring the chestnut with immediate effect.

A statement from Coolmore on X read: "Due to an aggravation of an old ringbone lesion we have decided to take no chances with Kyprios and although he is currently sound and doing well the decision has been made to retire him from racing."